Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Only
moments before 'going to post' did it dawn on me to change the headline
to this BEAUTIFUL song which just epitomises our trip. Want one of the
greatest 'songstresses' that ever lived to 'Blow Your Mind'?

Taking on water, sailing a restless sea
From a memory, a fantasy.
The wind carries into white water,
Far from the islands.
Don't you know you're
Never going to get to France.
Mary, Queen of Chance, will they find you?
Never going to get to France.
Could a new romance ever bind you?

Rock Trivia

SHAME THEN THAT OLDFIELD NEVER 'CREDITED' REILLY ON THE ALBUM SLEEVE!

All
good things come to an end, as is the case with the South of France.
This time tomorrow we will be back in a slightly 'warmer' Dorset so with
travel playing a large part in today's proceedings we'll end the trip
with a

pictorial run-down of the bird species seen during our trip. Please note, some of the images are from the archive!.

GREEN WOODPECKER

A single seen on day one, then absent until our last day when

c5 were seen. Others were heard occasionally.

BLACKBIRD

At all locations and seen on every day not even a guesstimate

made regarding numbers.

BLUE TIT

not as plentiful as might have been expected c3 in total.

CARRION CROW

undoubtedly the most common Corvid in the absence of

Rook! A couple of hundred must have been seen over the period.

CHAFFINCH

Warms your heart to see what could be described as 'swarm'

proportions of flocks all over the place.

Until the last day the most common Dove - see Wood Pigeon.

COMMON BUZZARD

Again at all locations mostly solitary birds, no count kept.

COMMON SNIPE

One 'flushed' while searching for the 'Best Bird' of the trip!

COMMON COOT

A few at both lakeside locations maybe amounting to 2 dozen.

CORMORANT

As with the above but not as numerous, just c8 in all.

DUNNOCK

'Calling' birds heard on a couple of occasions otherwise only

a single recorded.

GARDEN WARBLER

Most
unexpected species of the trip. Some might say should be in Africa with
the rest, but with 'tardy' Reed Warbler and Whinchat at Portland Bill
who's to know what is lurking in the hedgerow?

Although we are a 'little' further south than the Bill, c2 were found in the back garden.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

c6 seen at one lake and c2 at the other.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

A common garden bird, seen or heard at most other locations.

GREAT TIT

Like its cousin above a bit 'thin on the ground' only c2 seen.

GREY HERON

At waterside and grassy locations c11 seen.

HOUSE SPARROW

Seemingly not so common at this time of year a few in farm yards

and private houses.

JAY

In threatening competition with Carrion Crow in the numbers game ,

difficult to know just how many with at one site c9 together.

JACKDAW

c15 seen, widespread and often alone.

COMMON KESTREL

Seen everywhere but not counted.

LAPWING

Small feeding parties encountered in 3 different fields

on 3 separate days amounting to a total of about 50?

LITTLE EGRET

Far less numerous that Cattle Egret only a single seen all trip.

LONG-TAILED TIT

Just one feeding group of c17 on the final day.

MAGPIE

Good (or BAD dependent on how you view them) numbers all

over the place, one flock comprising c15 individuals.

MALLARD

Nearly saw as many 'on our plate' as we did in the field,

a total of c8.

MARSH HARRIER

On day one 7 were counted but not seen subsequently.

MEADOW PIPIT

They didn't show until the final full day and even then didn't reach

double figures.

NUTHATCH

The single frequenting the garden daily was the only representative.

COMMON PHEASANT

Talking of 'single representatives', just a lone cock bird was seen.

It is the height of the shooting season here and while most attention

is given to Wild Boar there is doubt that any huntsman would want

one of these to live to see the next day.

PIED WAGTAIL

Daily, numerous and wide spread.

ROBIN

Ditto!

SKYLARK

c2 were seen on the first day, then not again until the last when a

flock of an estimated 60 were buzzing around close to home.

SONG THRUSH

Occurring on the same days as the above but only as singles.

SPARROWHAWK

Just the one when we visited the Canard Shop.

COMMON STARLING

Certainly no 'murmuration' in fact only small numbers on a daily basis.

STOCK DOVE

Only a single sighting of c5 individuals on day 2.

STONECHAT

A single male on the final day was all seen.

TAWNY OWL

The 'singing' bird that greeted us the first evening, nor any

other was encountered again.

TEAL

About
50 birds conveniently 'flushed' by a Motorbike Brigade did at least
give opportunity to see most that were hiding in the reeds on the final
afternoon.

WOOD PIGEON

Total
counts were lower than Collared Dove up until the last afternoon, when
flocks of what must have been 'thousands were seen feeding in stubble
fields.

WREN

Just a few were heard but I don't think either of us 'clapped eyes' on one?

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About Me

Born Beeston, Notts 1946, my family moved to Dorset 1959. Joined the Royal Navy age 15 years and 50 days serving 10 years. In frigates firstly then over 5 years in Submarines as a Seaman/Diver, reaching the dizzy heights of Leading Seaman before leaving to join the Merchant Service, working in Ocean Salvage and Harbour Tugs, passenger / cargo ships, trials vessels, etc. Qualified as Mate (Chief Officer) in 1976 and as Master (Captain) in 1978. For my final 20 years of 47 I worked in the Offshore Oil Industry initially on the drilling rig Stena Hunter, then the accommodation barge Borgland Dolphin and finally the Floating Production Platform Buchan Alpha. On the rigs I forged a number of long lasting friendships several of whom shared some of my extensive travels. Setting foot on Caymen, Bermuda, Bahamas and The Azores in March 2013 brought my countries total to 147. The best, undoubtedly, was Antarctica, followed by Australia, Mongolia, Belize, Zimbabwe, China and Madagascar, in no particular order. As for my greatest achievement in life, my 2 beautiful daughters bear witness to that. Love to all our readers, your in my thoughts. Bagsy